Melrose, NY to Staten Island, NY is 30.2 miles and takes about 57 minutes via Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within New York, connecting the Northeast regions. It's a practical route that primarily uses major expressways, making it a straightforward option for getting from point A to point B without much complication. Plan for this drive to be mostly highway driving, so be prepared for that style of travel.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
5.8 mi
9m
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West
5.7 mi
9m
Gowanus Expressway
4.7 mi
6m
Staten Island Expressway
2.9 mi
4m
Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
2.3 mi
4m
Manor Road
2.1 mi
5m
Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge
1.4 mi
2m
Saint Ann's Avenue
1.4 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
— 5.8 mi, about 9m
Traffic on I-278
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,452 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~674 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 34 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Melrose, NY and Staten Island, NY.
1
Start on East 163rd Street
502 ft·21 sec·East 163rd Street
2
Turn right onto Third Avenue
0.1 mi·31 sec·Third Avenue
3
Turn sharp left onto East 161st Street
118 ft·7 sec·East 161st Street
4
Turn right onto Saint Ann's Avenue
1.4 mi·4 min·Saint Ann's Avenue
5
Turn left onto East 134th Street
265 ft·9 sec·East 134th Street
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward I 278 West: Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, Manhattan, Queens
7
Continue on I 278
2.3 mi·4 min·Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 278; GCP
0.8 mi·1 min·Grand Central Parkway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278
5.7 mi·9 min·Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn, Staten IslandUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278
5.6 mi·9 min·Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Toward I 278 West: Staten IslandUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 278
1.9 mi·2 min·Gowanus Expressway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278
0.2 mi·17 sec·Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Toward I 278: Staten Island
13
Continue on I 278
2.2 mi·3 min·Gowanus Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278
0.6 mi·49 sec·Gowanus Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 278
1.4 mi·2 min·Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge
16
Continue on I 278
2.9 mi·4 min·Staten Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 12Toward Slosson Avenue, Todt Hill RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on Reon Avenue
397 ft·9 sec·Reon Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
19
Continue on Reon Avenue
358 ft·8 sec·Reon Avenue
20
Keep slight left at fork onto North Gannon Avenue
0.1 mi·21 sec·North Gannon Avenue
21
Turn left onto Manor Road
0.8 mi·2 min·Manor Road
22
Continue on Manor Road
1.3 mi·3 min·Manor Road
23
Turn left onto Rockland Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Rockland Avenue
24
Continue on Richmond Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Richmond Road
25
Turn left onto Kensico Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Kensico Street
26
At end of road, turn left onto Clarke Avenue
284 ft·13 sec·Clarke Avenue
27
Turn right onto Cotter Avenue
0.3 mi·54 sec·Cotter Avenue
28
Continue on Corona Avenue
0.2 mi·40 sec·Corona Avenue
29
Turn right onto Croft Court
147 ft·6 sec·Croft Court
30
Arrive at destination
Croft Court
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 15.1 miles from Melrose, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 25.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|East 161st Street
Turn sharp left onto East 161st Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
8
5 mi into trip|~12m in|I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West toward I 278 West: Brooklyn, Staten Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn, Staten Island
7
10.7 mi into trip|~21m in|I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway toward I 278 West: Staten Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 278 West: Staten Island
6
20.6 mi into trip|~37m in|I 278 / Gowanus Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278 / Gowanus Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
25.5 mi into trip|~44m in
Take the exit toward Slosson Avenue, Todt Hill Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 12
Toward Slosson Avenue, Todt Hill Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.91 one way
$9.82 round trip
$4.13/gal25.4 MPG avg11 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.47
$5.31
$10.62
premium
$4.87
$5.79
$11.57
diesel
$5.40
$6.42
$12.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging
· 0 stops
· 64% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
9.1
0
$3.17
$1.45
Efficient EV
7.6
0
$2.64
$1.21
EV Truck/SUV
12.1
0
$4.23
$1.93
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 26, 2026
Origin
Melrose, NY
Morning
in Melrose on Sunday
Local time
7:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Rain Showers
E 10 mph98% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 8:05PM EDT until April 26 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 1:03PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Staten Island, NY
Morning
in Staten Island on Sunday
Local time
7:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Rain Showers
E 15 mph97% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 8:05PM EDT until April 26 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 1:03PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
57m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 66% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your 57-minute drive on expressways. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 5.8 miles along the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. Expect to encounter significant urban merging and dense exit traffic as you navigate these busy parkways. The remaining part of the drive will transition to surface streets as you approach your destination.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.8 mi on Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near East 161st Street.
Driving Effort9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 18 decision points packed into just 30.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (East 161st Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 5 miles (I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.7 miles (I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Melrose, NY and Staten Island, NY, road signs point toward Manhattan and Queens.
Staten Island is New York City's "Forgotten Borough" across New York Harbor from Manhattan. Staten Island may seem like it's in an entirely different world than the hustle and bustle expected in New York City. However, it still has some of the features you've come to expect from the city. This combination of city influences and its rural origins have created a unique borough that is a great place to visit.
Top landmarks
•Bayonne Bridge — arch bridge connecting Staten Island, NY with Bayonne, NJ
•Staten Island Museum — museum in Staten Island, New York
Doable as a same-day drive at 57m. Total distance: 30.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.8 miles on Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Staten Island, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (East 161st Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 5 miles (I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.7 miles (I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — African Burial Ground National Monument, Castle Clinton National Monument and Federal Hall National Memorial (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Staten Island, NY before heading back.
